Pittsburgh Steelers UDFA that might steal someone’s job in 2023

You don’t often see “running backs” listed at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds coming out of the college ranks and getting signed by NFL teams. Perhaps even less common is those running backs only catching 47 passes in 58 games and still finding their way onto a 90-man roster. But that is the case for Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted free agent Jordan Byrd, who played 58 games at San Diego State and enters the NFL with one big question mark…

Can you be an elite return specialist from Day 1?

That’s why Byrd was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s got game-changing speed and he puts it to good use in the return game.

Pittsburgh Steelers UDFA Jordan Byrd stealing a roster spot?

The Ourlads depth chart for the Steelers says Byrd (wearing no. 16) is a slot receiver for the Steelers on their 90-man roster. Does he have what it takes to compete with the likes of Calvin Austin and Gunner Olszewski in the return game for Pittsburgh?

At San Diego State, Byrd scored 13 total touchdowns as an offensive weapon but added four in the return game. Three of those were on kickoff returns and one as a punt returner. His overall athletic testing metrics were less than average which is part of the reason why someone with such spectacular production in the return game went undrafted.

Some guys run fast on the track, other guys play fast. You don’t become a three-time finalist for the Paul Hornung Award (given to the country’s most versatile college football player) by accident. Jordan Byrd can play, but the question now becomes whether he can maximize his opportunities enough to steal someone’s roster spot.

Relatively speaking, the Steelers had a pretty modest and small undrafted free agent class. Byrd was clearly someone they had targeted leading up to the NFL Draft and this summer is where their vision for him will come to life.

You don’t have to run a 4.3 to be a great return specialist in the NFL. You just have to be able to turn on the jets when the ball is in your hands. Byrd has done that consistently, averaging almost 25 yards per kickoff return in his college career.

The Pittsburgh Steelers always seem to find interesting offensive skill players, whether it’s in the first couple of rounds of the NFL Draft or late/undrafted types. They develop these guys well and someone like Byrd could be the next in line. It will be fascinating to watch his progress through training camp and preseason play.